Relationship between high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T, B‐type natriuretic peptide, and physical function in patients with heart failure

AIMS: High‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs‐cTnT) and B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are associated with prognosis and severity in patients with heart failure (HF); however, their association with physical function is unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether hs‐cTnT and BNP levels are associated with physical function in patients with HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hs‐cTnT, BNP, and physical function (maximal quadriceps isometric strength [QIS], usual gait speed, and 6‐min walk distance [6MWD]) were evaluated in 363 consecutive patients with HF (median age, 70 [60–78] years). Patients were divided into four groups according to their median hs‐cTnT and BNP levels. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, laboratory levels, and HF severity, higher hs‐cTnT and BNP levels were significantly associated with lower physical function (log hs‐cTnT, β = −0.162, P = 0.001, for maximal QIS; β = −0.175, P = 0.002, for usual gait speed, and β = −0.129, P = 0.004, for 6MWD; log BNP, β = −0.090, P = 0.092, for maximal QIS, β = 0.038, P = 0.516, for usual gait speed, and β = −0.108, P = 0.023, for 6MWD). In addition, the high hs‐cTnT and high BNP group had significantly lower physical function (all P < 0.05) than the low hs‐cTnT and low BNP group. CONCLUSIONS: Higher hs‐cTnT and BNP levels are both associated with lower physical function in patients with HF, but hs‐cTnT levels showed a more consistent association. The combination of hs‐cTnT and BNP may be effective for the stratification of physical function in patients with HF.